White House Military Office
Encyclopedia
The White House Military Office (WHMO), an entity of the Executive Office of the President, provides military support for White House
functions, including food service, Presidential transportation, medical support and emergency medical services, and hospitality services. The White House Military Office is headed by the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director, White House Military Office. This office is currently held by George D. Mulligan Jr. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/10/new_white_house_military_offic.html
of several previously independent offices and agencies. Military representation aiding Presidents predates the construction of the White House and originated with General George Washington
's Aide-de-Camp
, whose role as Personal Aide to the President has continued and is currently filled by the Military Aides to the President. These roles carry a wide variety of responsibilities, from critical military command and control missions to ceremonial duties at Presidential events. The White House Garage was created by an act of Congress in 1909. Over the years it was transformed into a military organization and became a regular unit in 1963 by the name of the U.S. Army Transportation Agency (White House). It was later renamed the White House Transportation Agency
.
Camp David
was established in 1942 to provide the President a safe and relaxing residence away from the White House. That same year, the White House Communications Agency
was formed to assure that the President always had access to safe, secure, and reliable means of communication. Two years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
called for the creation of the Presidential Pilot's Office (renamed the Presidential Airlift Group in 2001) to provide air transportation to the President and his staff.
The White House Medical Unit
was established in the West Wing
in 1945. The White House Mess was established in 1951 and has been run by the Navy
ever since. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) was created in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower
was vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island
, and had to return to the White House on short notice. He flew the first portion of the trip aboard HMX-1.
On May 8, 2009, Louis Caldera
, the Director of the White House Military Office, resigned amid controversy over the Air Force One photo op incident
. His successor was announced on October 16, 2009, as George D. Mulligan Jr.
assets. He ensures that White House requirements are clearly communicated to the WHMO Directorates and meet the highest standards of Presidential quality.
The WHMO's operational units are the most visible element of the WHMO's support to the President. The WHMO units include the: White House Communications Agency
, Presidential Airlift Group, White House Medical Unit
, Camp David
, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Presidential Food Service
, White House Transportation Agency
, White House Social Aides, and Military Aides to the President. The White House Military Office also includes staff dedicated to Operations, Information and Technology Management Financial Management and Comptroller, WHMO Counsel, and Security. Together the WHMO's entities provide essential service to the President as well as help assure the continuity of the Presidency.
Most uniformed personnel assigned to the WHMO are eligible to wear the Presidential Service Badge
after "a period of at least one year."
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
functions, including food service, Presidential transportation, medical support and emergency medical services, and hospitality services. The White House Military Office is headed by the Deputy Assistant to the President and Director, White House Military Office. This office is currently held by George D. Mulligan Jr. http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2009/10/new_white_house_military_offic.html
History
Today's White House Military Office is an amalgamationAmalgamation (politics)
A merger or amalgamation in a political or administrative sense is the combination of two or more political or administrative entities such as municipalities , counties, districts, etc. into a single entity. This term is used when the process occurs within a sovereign entity...
of several previously independent offices and agencies. Military representation aiding Presidents predates the construction of the White House and originated with General George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
, whose role as Personal Aide to the President has continued and is currently filled by the Military Aides to the President. These roles carry a wide variety of responsibilities, from critical military command and control missions to ceremonial duties at Presidential events. The White House Garage was created by an act of Congress in 1909. Over the years it was transformed into a military organization and became a regular unit in 1963 by the name of the U.S. Army Transportation Agency (White House). It was later renamed the White House Transportation Agency
White House Transportation Agency
The White House Transportation Agency provides motor vehicle transportation to the White House as directed by the White House Military Office. This includes 24/7 ground transportation for the President's family, the White House staff, official visitors of the First Family and other authorized...
.
Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
was established in 1942 to provide the President a safe and relaxing residence away from the White House. That same year, the White House Communications Agency
White House Communications Agency
The White House Communications Agency , originally known as the White House Signal Detachment , was officially formed by the United States Department of War on 25 March 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The WHSD was created to provide normal and emergency communications requirements in...
was formed to assure that the President always had access to safe, secure, and reliable means of communication. Two years later, President Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
called for the creation of the Presidential Pilot's Office (renamed the Presidential Airlift Group in 2001) to provide air transportation to the President and his staff.
The White House Medical Unit
White House Medical Unit
The White House Medical Unit is the unit of the White House Military Office responsible for the medical needs of White House staff and visitors. The Unit provides medical care to the President, the Vice President, and their families....
was established in the West Wing
West Wing
The West Wing is the building housing the official offices of the President of the United States. It is the part of the White House Complex in which the Oval Office, the Cabinet Room, the Situation Room, and the Roosevelt Room are located...
in 1945. The White House Mess was established in 1951 and has been run by the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
ever since. Marine Helicopter Squadron One (HMX-1) was created in 1957 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
was vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, and had to return to the White House on short notice. He flew the first portion of the trip aboard HMX-1.
On May 8, 2009, Louis Caldera
Louis Caldera
Louis Caldera was Director of the White House Military Office from January 20, 2009, until May 22, 2009, and served as the 17th United States Secretary of the Army from July 2, 1998, until January 20, 2001.-Family and education:...
, the Director of the White House Military Office, resigned amid controversy over the Air Force One photo op incident
Air Force One photo op incident
The Air Force One photo op incident occurred on the morning of April 27, 2009, when a Boeing VC-25 , followed by a U.S. Air Force F-16 jet fighter, flew low and circled the Upper New York Bay, site of the Statue of Liberty National Monument...
. His successor was announced on October 16, 2009, as George D. Mulligan Jr.
Structure
The WHMO is headed by a Director who oversees the policies involving Department of DefenseUnited States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
assets. He ensures that White House requirements are clearly communicated to the WHMO Directorates and meet the highest standards of Presidential quality.
The WHMO's operational units are the most visible element of the WHMO's support to the President. The WHMO units include the: White House Communications Agency
White House Communications Agency
The White House Communications Agency , originally known as the White House Signal Detachment , was officially formed by the United States Department of War on 25 March 1942 under President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The WHSD was created to provide normal and emergency communications requirements in...
, Presidential Airlift Group, White House Medical Unit
White House Medical Unit
The White House Medical Unit is the unit of the White House Military Office responsible for the medical needs of White House staff and visitors. The Unit provides medical care to the President, the Vice President, and their families....
, Camp David
Camp David
Camp David is the country retreat of the President of the United States and his guests. It is located in low wooded hills about 60 mi north-northwest of Washington, D.C., on the property of Catoctin Mountain Park in unincorporated Frederick County, Maryland, near Thurmont, at an elevation of...
, Marine Helicopter Squadron One, Presidential Food Service
Presidential Food Service
Presidential Food Service provides worldwide food service, security, and personal support to the President and First Family. Additionally, they provide gourmet meals and support catered functions and Social Aide Dinners for visiting heads of state....
, White House Transportation Agency
White House Transportation Agency
The White House Transportation Agency provides motor vehicle transportation to the White House as directed by the White House Military Office. This includes 24/7 ground transportation for the President's family, the White House staff, official visitors of the First Family and other authorized...
, White House Social Aides, and Military Aides to the President. The White House Military Office also includes staff dedicated to Operations, Information and Technology Management Financial Management and Comptroller, WHMO Counsel, and Security. Together the WHMO's entities provide essential service to the President as well as help assure the continuity of the Presidency.
Most uniformed personnel assigned to the WHMO are eligible to wear the Presidential Service Badge
Presidential Service Badge
The Presidential Service Badge is a badge of the United States military issued to service members who serve as full-time military staff to the President of the United States...
after "a period of at least one year."
See also
- Executive Office of the PresidentExecutive Office of the President of the United StatesThe Executive Office of the President consists of the immediate staff of the President of the United States, as well as multiple levels of support staff reporting to the President. The EOP is headed by the White House Chief of Staff, currently William M. Daley...
- Presidential Service AssociationPresidential Service AssociationThe Presidential Service Association is a non-profit organization for United States armed services personnel and veterans who have served in the White House in Washington, D.C., United States.-Mission:...